Apparatus for finishing textile materials and the like

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for finishing textile materials and the like, in which the finishing compositions are applied onto the articles to be treated by the spraying method through one ore more rows of nozzles fed by a pump under a pressure of at least 3 kg/cm2. The textile material is passed, driven by a plurality of rolls, firstly through the spraying chamber, then through a drying chamber with recycle of air, finally through a thermal treatment chamber with circulation of air.

United States Patent [151 3,695,220

Garzotto 1 Oct. 3, 1972 APPARATUS FOR FINISHING TEXTILE 2,003,148 5/1935 Hochstetter ..1 18/67 X MATERIALS AND THE LIKE 3,288,103 11/1966 Lemieux ..1 18/316 X 3,222,895 12/1965 Sheppard ..68/205 R X I [72] Gmmm valdagm My 1,837,682 12/1931 Seanght ..118/67 [73] Assignee: Rimar S.p.A., Trissino (Vicenza), 2,319,353 5/1943 Schwartz et a1 ..1 18/324 X ltaly 2,269,169 1/ 1942 Van Der Hoef et a1..1 18/67 X [22] Flled: March 1970 Primary Examiner--John P. McIntosh [21] Appl. No.: 17,699 Attorney-Brooks, Haidt & Haffner [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for finishing textile materials and the like, March 30, 1969 Italy ..1431O A/69 in which the finishingcompositions are applied Onto the articles to be treated by the spraying method ($1 "us/61 6; through one ore more rows of nozzles fed by a pump I under a pressure of at least 3 kglcmz. The textile [58] Fleld of Searchml 68/205 R material is passed, driven by a plurality of rolls, firstly through the spraying chamber, then through a drying [56] References Clted chamber with recycle of air, finally through a thermal UNITED STATES PATENTS treatment chamber with circulation of air. 3,149,004 9/1964 Fleissner ..1 18/67 X 12 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure in m- I llll l lli'l-l Bu'labaullbbb Hi l-- el l lllw n llll. It'll! "I'm 1 l APPARATUS FOR FINISIHNG TEXTILE MATERIALS AND THE LIKE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for finishing textile materials and the like, and more particularly to a machine for applying finishing compositions dispersed in chlorinated organic solvents by the spraying technique.

As it is well known, fabrics as well as other textile products and the like are treated with finishing compositions in order to confer to them particular characteristics. It is known, for example, that in order to confer antistain characteristics to the fabrics and other textile articles, these are treated with compositions based on polymers containing perfluorinated chains.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is also well known that the most common technique employed to apply the above mentioned compositions onto textile products is the so-called foulard technique, which consists of the following operations:

I. Dipping the textile material into a bath containing the aqueous emulsion of the perfluorinated polymer, suitably diluted with water and other finishing agents. The immersion time is defined by the passing rate of the material throughout the bath and by the length of said bath.

2. Pressing the textile material between two rolls.

3. Drying the textile material by passing the same on hot rolls or in an evaporation chamber, and, if necessary, by a treatment at high temperature 140 to 170C), which is usually carried out by causing the textile material to pass through a stove or on hot rolls.

The sequence of such operations generally results in deteriorating some characteristics which are most important with a view to marketing the treated textile material.

Such deterioration concerns above all the hand of the fabric. In textile technique, hand of the fabric means the sensation of agreeableness which one feels when touching a fabric and which is the resultant of a plurality of characteristics depending on the fiberto-fiber friction, the fiber-to-skin friction, the elasticity modulus of the fiber and yarn, the structure of the fabric, its superficial electrizability, etc. It is known that the judgment of the textile expert on the hand of a fabric, yarn or knitted material determines its price and its success in the market.

Although the application of the commercial finishes in aqueous emulsions onto textile materials .by the socalled foulard method imparts to them the desired oiland water-repellent characteristics, etc., said application always deteriorates their hand characteristics.

One of the objects of the present invention therefore is to supply the textile technician with an apparatus making it possible to apply finishing compositions onto textile materials without resorting to the know foulard method.

A further object of this invention is to supply the textile technician with an apparatus making it possible to apply finishing compositions fabrics and the like without deteriorating the hand characteristics of the treated articles.

An additional object of this invention is to supply the textile technicians with an apparatus making it possible to advantageously apply finishing compositions dispersed in chlorinated organic solvents of the aliphatic series.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These, as well as other purposes, characteristics and advantages of the apparatus according to the present invention will be evident to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of an embodiment of said apparatus, with reference to the attached FIG. 1 which schematically illustrates an elevated side-view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to this invention.

The essential feature of the apparatus according to this invention is that it enables to apply finishing compositions onto textile materials by the spraying method. Said spraying method is well known and is widely employed in many types of treatment. Said method, however, has never been employed to apply certain finishing compositions onto textile materials, on an industrial scale. The fact that the spraying method is not used in this particular industrial field is to be ascribed principally to the lack of adequate apparatus. Moreover, in many cases, finishing compositions suitable for being applied by the spraying method were not found in the market.

Recently, particular finishing compositions have been developed by the applicant and are the subjectmatter of copending patent applications, which compositions are particularly suitable for being applied onto textile materials by the spraying technique. Such compositions must be applied onto the articles in a series of operations, the sequential order of which to be strictly observed in order to obtain the desired results.

The apparatus according to this invention is particularly appropriate for applying said new finishing compositions consisting essentially of dispersions of polymeric substances in chlorinated organic solvents of the aliphatic series.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE in the drawing is a schematic, side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

With reference to the drawing, the apparatus according to this invention, besides including various complementary elements, which will be better described hereinafter, substantially consists of:

A. A spraying chamber 10, through which the fabric is passed, driven by rolls, vertically with respect to a plurality of spraying units 20 which spray the finishing composition perpendicularly onto the fabric. The spraying units 20 are preferably fixed and are arranged in one or more rows directed towards both surfaces of the fabric to be treated. Said spraying units are preferably of a mechanical atomizing type and are preferably fed by a pump 7. Said pump must have an appropriate power in order to confer the nozzles of the spraying units 20a pressure of at least 3 kg/cm The number and type of the spraying units 20 must be so chosen as to allow a complete and sufficiently uniform spraying onto the whole fabric.

B. A chamber 6 wherein the fabric impregnated by spraying with the finishing composition and driven by rolls is passed, with a crossing time ranging from 10 to 35 seconds.

C. A drying chamber 18 with recycle of air, wherein the fabric driven by rolls remains for 80 to I70 seconds. The temperature in this chamber is comprised between 85 and 120 C. The fabric is dried in an air flow, which is circulated (as shown by the arrows) through the chamber by a fan 11. Prior to being admitted into the chamber, the air is preferably heated, for example by means of a steam system 22 with finned tubes. In such case, the steam flow is controlled automatically by the temperature adjusting device in the chamber. The concentration of the organic solvent vapors in the chamber is kept constant by the fan 13 which conveys a fraction of air and solvent vapors through a cooling system 14 provided with finned tubes.

In order to prevent cold air from directly entering the chamber, said cold air is mixed with the main flow of air and solvent vapors downstream the first fan and upstream the heating system.

D. A chamber 19 for thermal treatment by recycle of air, wherein the fabric driven by rolls remains for a time between 65 and 140 seconds at a temperature ranging from 120 to l50C. In this chamber, temperature is kept constant by circulating (as shown schematically in the drawing) an air flow which is caused to circulate by a fan 12. While circulating, the air is heated for example by passing through a system 23 of stem-heated finned tubes. Temperature is kept constant by an adjusting device acting upon the flow of the heating steam.

As already stated hereinabove, the apparatus according to this invention may be equipped with other complementary elements.

One of these complementary elements consists of the deodorizing roll 4 arranged downstream the chamber 18. The fabric is conveyed over the apertured roll 4 connected to the fan 2, which originates inside the roll 4 a suction stream, which removes the solvent vapors from the fabric and conveys them (in the'direction indicated by the arrow) into a solvent recuperator provided with activated carbon filters. A similar deodorizing roll may be arranged downstream the chamber 19.

Additional complementary elements of the apparatus according to the invention consist of a tank to contain the solvent of the finishing compositions, and one or more tanks 21 to contain the finishing compositions used for treating the fabrics.

The finishing composition tanks are preferably provided with adequate stirrers. A pump is used to transfer the solvent from its tank into the tanks containing the finishing compositions.

Prior to being sent to the spraying units 20, the finishing compositions are preferably filtered, for example through the filters 8. A pump 9 is used to recycle into the tanks 21 the compositions recovered at the bottom of the spraying chamber 10.

Further complementary elements of the apparatus according to this invention are the exhauster 16 for the polymerization smokes, which is situated at the top of the chamber 19, as well as the device 17, the purpose of which is to cool the treated fabric.

Still with reference to the drawing, it may be noticed that when the apparatus according to this invention is operating, the fabric 3 to be treated is unrolled under the action of controlled rolls from the roll 1, and is progressively passed, within controlled periods of time, through the spraying chamber 10, the chamber 6, the chamber 18, around the deodorizing roll 4, through the chamber 19 and the cooling device 17, and is finally collected on the roll 5 of the treated fabric.

If subjected to some modifications, the apparatus according to the present invention may be adapted for the treatment of any textile material other than fabrics. Further additions and/or modifications may be contributed by those skilled in the art to the embodiment herein described and illustrated merely by way of nonlimiting example of this invention, while remaining within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for applying liquid finishing compositions containing a polymerizable substance to textile material comprising a spraying chamber, spray nozzles within said chamber for spraying said composition on the surface of said material, a drying chamber following said spraying chamber for removing the liquid from said material in the form of vapors, means for recycling air including said vapors formed in said drying chamber through said drying chamber including first air circulating means having its intake connected to one portion of said drying chamber for removing air containing said vapors therefrom and having its outlet connected to a different portion of said drying chamber for supplying said air containing said vapors thereto and means intermediate said portions of said drying chamber and in the path of the air circulated by said air circulating means for heating said air to a temperature above room temperature but below the polymerizing temperature of said substance, said air circulating means having its intake isolated from said spraying chamber to thereby prevent circulation of air from said spraying chamber in said drying chamber, a polymerizing chamber following said drying chamber, means separate from said air recycling means for flowing air at a temperature above the polymerizing temperature of said substance through said polymerizing chamber including second air circulating means separate from said first air circulating means having its outlet connected to a portion of said polymerizing chamber for supplying said air thereto and heating means in the path of said air circulated by said last-mentioned air circulating means, and conveying means for conveying said textile material successively through said spraying, drying and polymerizing chambers for the time periods required, respectively, to spray said composition on said material, to dry said material and to substantially polymerize said substance.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spray nozzles are disposed in at least two rows disposed transversely of the path of movement of said textile material through said spraying chamber, one row on each side of said path and each row comprising a plurality of nozzles.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said conveying means is arranged tomove said textile material along a vertical path within said spraying chamber.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further comprising means supplying said composition to said spray nozzles at a pressure of at least three kilograms per square centimeter.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a feed chamber intermediate said spraying chamber and said drying chamber and wherein said conveying means moves said textile material through said feed chamber at a rate which maintains any given portion thereof within said feed chamber for a period of time of between about and 35 seconds.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first air circulating means comprises means maintaining the temperature in said drying chamber in the range from about 80 to 120 C.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said conveying means moves said textile material through said drying chamber at a rate which maintains any given portion thereof within said drying chamber for a period of time of between about 80 and 170 seconds.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second air circulating means comprises means maintaining the temperature in said polymerizing chamber in the range from about 120 to 150 C.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said conveying means moves said textile material through said polymerizing chamber at a rate which maintains any given portion thereof within said polymerizing chamber for a period of time between about 65 and 140 seconds.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conveying means comprises an apertured roll intermediate said drying and polymerizing chambers and over which said textile material passes and further comprising means separate from said first and second air circulating means for pulling air through the apertures in said roll.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second air circulating means has its inlet connected to a portion of said polymerizing chamber different from the portion thereof to which its outlet is connected for recycling air through said polymerizing chamber and an exhaust duct is also connected to said last-mentioned outlet for exhausting a portion of the air circulated by said last-mentioned air circulating means.

12. Apparatus for applying liquid finishing compositions containing a polymerizable substance to textile material comprising a spraying chamber, spray nozzles within said chamber for spraying said composition on the surface of said material, a drying chamber following said spraying chamber for removing the liquid from said material in the form of vapors, means for recycling air including said vapors formed in said drying chamber through said drying chamber including first air circulating means having its intake connected to one portion of said drying chamber for removing air containing said vapors therefrom and having its outlet connected to a different portion of said drying chamber for supplying said air containing said vapors thereto and means intermediate said portions of said drying chamber and in the path of the air circulated by said air circulating means for heating said air to a temperature above room temperature but below the polymerizing temperature of said substance, a further air circulating means connected in arallel with said first air circulating means and inclu ing cooling means for cooling a portion of the air recycled to said drying chamber and thereby removing a portion of said vapors from said last-mentioned air, a polymerizing chamber following said drying chamber, means for flowing air at a temperature above the polymerizing temperature of said substance through said polymerizing chamber including second air circulating means having its outlet connected to a portion of said polymerizing chamber for supplying said air thereto and heating means in the path of said air circulated by said last-mentioned air circulating means, and conveying means for conveying said textile material successively through said spraying, drying and polymerizing chambers for the time periods required, respectively, to spray said composition on said material, to dry said material and to substantially polymerize said substance. 

1. Apparatus for applying liquid finishing compositions containing a polymerizable substance to textile material comprising a spraying chamber, spray nozzles within said chamber for spraying said composition on the surface of said material, a drying chamber following said spraying chamber for removing the liquid from said material in the form of vapors, means for recycliNg air including said vapors formed in said drying chamber through said drying chamber including first air circulating means having its intake connected to one portion of said drying chamber for removing air containing said vapors therefrom and having its outlet connected to a different portion of said drying chamber for supplying said air containing said vapors thereto and means intermediate said portions of said drying chamber and in the path of the air circulated by said air circulating means for heating said air to a temperature above room temperature but below the polymerizing temperature of said substance, said air circulating means having its intake isolated from said spraying chamber to thereby prevent circulation of air from said spraying chamber in said drying chamber, a polymerizing chamber following said drying chamber, means separate from said air recycling means for flowing air at a temperature above the polymerizing temperature of said substance through said polymerizing chamber including second air circulating means separate from said first air circulating means having its outlet connected to a portion of said polymerizing chamber for supplying said air thereto and heating means in the path of said air circulated by said last-mentioned air circulating means, and conveying means for conveying said textile material successively through said spraying, drying and polymerizing chambers for the time periods required, respectively, to spray said composition on said material, to dry said material and to substantially polymerize said substance.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spray nozzles are disposed in at least two rows disposed transversely of the path of movement of said textile material through said spraying chamber, one row on each side of said path and each row comprising a plurality of nozzles.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said conveying means is arranged to move said textile material along a vertical path within said spraying chamber.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further comprising means supplying said composition to said spray nozzles at a pressure of at least three kilograms per square centimeter.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a feed chamber intermediate said spraying chamber and said drying chamber and wherein said conveying means moves said textile material through said feed chamber at a rate which maintains any given portion thereof within said feed chamber for a period of time of between about 10 and 35 seconds.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first air circulating means comprises means maintaining the temperature in said drying chamber in the range from about 80 to 120 C.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said conveying means moves said textile material through said drying chamber at a rate which maintains any given portion thereof within said drying chamber for a period of time of between about 80 and 170 seconds.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second air circulating means comprises means maintaining the temperature in said polymerizing chamber in the range from about 120 to 150 C.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said conveying means moves said textile material through said polymerizing chamber at a rate which maintains any given portion thereof within said polymerizing chamber for a period of time between about 65 and 140 seconds.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conveying means comprises an apertured roll intermediate said drying and polymerizing chambers and over which said textile material passes and further comprising means separate from said first and second air circulating means for pulling air through the apertures in said roll.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second air circulating means has its inlet connected to a portion of said polymerizing chamber different from the portion thereOf to which its outlet is connected for recycling air through said polymerizing chamber and an exhaust duct is also connected to said last-mentioned outlet for exhausting a portion of the air circulated by said last-mentioned air circulating means.
 12. Apparatus for applying liquid finishing compositions containing a polymerizable substance to textile material comprising a spraying chamber, spray nozzles within said chamber for spraying said composition on the surface of said material, a drying chamber following said spraying chamber for removing the liquid from said material in the form of vapors, means for recycling air including said vapors formed in said drying chamber through said drying chamber including first air circulating means having its intake connected to one portion of said drying chamber for removing air containing said vapors therefrom and having its outlet connected to a different portion of said drying chamber for supplying said air containing said vapors thereto and means intermediate said portions of said drying chamber and in the path of the air circulated by said air circulating means for heating said air to a temperature above room temperature but below the polymerizing temperature of said substance, a further air circulating means connected in parallel with said first air circulating means and including cooling means for cooling a portion of the air recycled to said drying chamber and thereby removing a portion of said vapors from said last-mentioned air, a polymerizing chamber following said drying chamber, means for flowing air at a temperature above the polymerizing temperature of said substance through said polymerizing chamber including second air circulating means having its outlet connected to a portion of said polymerizing chamber for supplying said air thereto and heating means in the path of said air circulated by said last-mentioned air circulating means, and conveying means for conveying said textile material successively through said spraying, drying and polymerizing chambers for the time periods required, respectively, to spray said composition on said material, to dry said material and to substantially polymerize said substance. 